The best places to visit

The Rock – Visiting Alcatraz My newlywed friends the Fiddler’s were making the most out of their Air Canada flight passes and decided to meet up with us in San Fransisco…for the day. Having little time to tour a town is nothing new to Erin and I. We made the most of our time by starting the day with a trolley ride to the wharf. From their we walked down to pier 33 where we caught the ferry to Alcatraz. Visiting Alcatraz is something else. There is a self guided tour that gives history and stories as told from past guards and inmates. The story of the only 3 escapees is an incredible one. Over a span of a year or so, 3 inmates created fake paper machete heads out of soap, toilet paper and real hair. The heads are on display and are definitely convincing, so much so that it got them a 7 hour + head start. Visiting Alcatraz is a must do when in the Bay area. After the tour we took the boat back to the wharf and headed to the Aquarium. Again, the aquarium in Boston ...

Concurring my fear of roller coasters T oronto is a cool city. I have passed through numerous times but never really took any of it in. I was lucky to have tour guides this time as I stayed with Erin and Steph, whom I met on a train from Krakow to Budapest. They are a lot of fun and great hostess’s. I saw a lot in Toronto and had a blast. My favorite sights were the hockey hall of fame, center island, and Canada’s Wonderland. The Hockey Hall of Fame was very cool, so much history, information and games. I was like a little kid in there. I could have spent hours reading stats and stories but didn’t want Erin to sit through that. The hockey masks through the years were sweet and I got to see the original Stanley cup. Center island is a great escape from the big smoke. We headed out to watch some wake boarding competitions but were pretty slow moving from the night prior. Instead we toured the island, walked out to the piers, got lost in a garden maze, and saw a sunse...

Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, USA. The caves are found in the Guadalupe Mountains. Tourists primarily visit Carlsbad Cavern – a show cave, which is prepared for the visitors. This particular cave has a huge limestone chamber, which is 4,000 ft (1,220 m) long, 625 ft (191 m) wide and 255 ft (78 m) high. It is the seventh largest chamber in the world and is simply called Big Room. Limestone and stalactites are found all over the caves. In the spotlight they reflect various colors and transfer visitors to the different, magic world for a while. Tourists can hike or use the elevator to see the cave. Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown Photo by Unknown [symple_googlemap title=”Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, Naujoji Meksika” location=”Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Carlsbad, Naujoji Meksika” zoom=”10″ height=250]

By Nadine Jolie Courtney As a lifelong skier, I eagerly anticipated my first day on the slopes with my now three-year-old daughter, Aurelia. I set the scene as we prepared for a trip to Park City, Utah, and the Montage Deer Valley: snow angels, giggles on the bunny slope, and post-ski hot chocolate by the fire. The ski-in/ski-out resort seemed ideal for both my toddler and my never-skied-a-day-in-his-life husband, Erik. Draws include access to more than one hundred trails, an on-site ski outfitter, and rental service, plus shuttles regularly run to Deer Valley’s base lodge, about five minutes away. Montage Deer Valley glimmers at dusk. / Featured image: Soak in the views at Spa Montage. [Photos: Montage Deer Valley] But as fate would have it, a couple of weeks before we left, disaster (for a skier) struck: I severely sprained my ankle. “Should we cancel the trip?” Erik nervously asked after we learned I’d need twelve weeks of intensive physical therapy. He reminded me that his age...

At Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, they’ve braided my blond hair and wrapped it around my head, capping the hairdo with a fragrant crown of flowers. Around my neck, I don a colorful Oaxacan-made scarf. The white peasant blouse, which covers my brightly embroidered corset, and flamenco-style skirt billows in breeze. Seagulls circle in the sky. In the distance, a monkey shrieks. Costumed, I pose before the cobalt Caribbean Sea, the Riviera Maya sand serving as nature’s frame. My blood red lipstick gleams in the sun. The only things needed to fully complete my transformation: darker, thicker eyebrows; a complacent, slightly amused and knowing glare – and a boyfriend named Diego Rivera. A part of Frida’s wardrobe at Andaz Mayakoba. Now is your chance to be Frida Kahlo. Andaz Mayakoba offers guests a VIP session with Del Sol, their official resort photographers. (Virtuoso travelers booking the resort through their advisor receive this as one of numerous complimentary perks.) Hav...

There’s something to be said for going full Vegas. We’re not talking about Champagne-room shenanigans, but about embracing Sin City’s particular brand of sensory overload. Case in point: the Chandelier bar at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and its off-the-menu (but hardly under-the-radar) Verbena cocktail. Last summer, the whole Virtuoso Life staff fell for this tequila-based roller coaster in a rocks glass – and the bar’s over-the-top glitzy surroundings. The Verbena cocktail at The Cosmopolitan. (Photo by Chris Plavidal.) The experience goes like this: Corral a few friends, parade into The Chandelier’s Level 1.5 bar (you can get the drink on all three of the bar’s levels now, but it originated here), and order a round of Verbenas. Chew and swallow the Szechuan button garnish (the edible bud of the herb acmella oleracea ), then take a sip. Your tongue tingles, the flavors intensify, and hilarious Snapchat videos ensue. “Nature’s Pop Rocks” is one description that gets thrown around f...

By Natalie Sherman Senior Coordinator, Marketing Production Virtuoso Yes, Maui is a paradise for beach fans. But – perhaps surprisingly – it’s also a paradise for people seeking history, culture, nature and adventure. On a recent trip, a group of Virtuoso travel advisors and I explored a wide variety of what the island has to offer. Here are six Maui travel experiences you won’t want to miss.

If the hustle and bustle of everyday life has you craving a sweet escape to a Southern charm town, let me introduce you to Jackson, Mississippi ! Take it from a fast paced girl who travels the world — this town has everything you need to refresh, reflect, and have a heck of a good time (there’s my new-found Southern twang already kicking into action!). From the gourmet restaurants, adorable yet innovative shops, bubbly locals, and of course, important historical attributes, this quaint town has a LOT going for it! Just take a peek at the docuseries below to get a quick taste of it! The Full City With Soul Documentary from Maris, West & Baker on Vimeo. If you’re looking for information and itineraries, I got you. There’s two main areas of Jackson, Mississippi; the main area is the up-and-coming Historic District (AKA “Downtown”), and then there’s the currently-trendy one a mere two miles north called Fondren. And of course, there’s plenty of gems in betwe...